HYDRA, an island of Greece (anc. Hydrea), lying about 4 m. off the south-east coast of Argolis and forming with the neigh bouring island of Dokos (Dhoko) the Bay of Hydra. The greatest length from south-west to north-east is about 1r m., and the area is about 21 sq.m. ; a rocky and treeless ridge with hardly a patch or two of arable soil. Hence the epigram of Antonios Kriezes to the queen of Greece : "The island produces prickly pears in abundance, splendid sea captains and excellent prime ministers." The highest point, Mount Ere, so called (according to Miaoules) from the Albanian word for wind, is 1,958 ft. high. The next is known as the Prophet Elias, from the large convent on its summit. Here the patriot Theodorus Kolokotrones was im prisoned, and a pine tree is still called after him. In former times the island was richly wooded as its Turkish name Tchamliza, the place of pines, shows. It was once well-watered (hence the desig nation Hydrea), but is now wholly dependent on the rain supply, and sometimes water must be brought from the mainland. This change may be due in part to earthquakes, which are frequent ; that of 1769 continued for six days. Hydra, the chief town, pop. 5,700, near the middle of the northern coast, on a very irregular site, has white and handsome houses, and its streets though narrow are clean. There are three other ports on the north coast—Mandraki, Molo, Panagia, but none sufficiently sheltered. Almost all the population of the island is collected in the town, which has a bishop, a local court, numerous churches and a high school. Cotton and silk weaving, tanning and shipbuilding are carried on, and there is a fairly active trade.
Hydra was of no importance in ancient times. In 1580 it was the refuge of Albanians from Kokkinyas in Troezenia ; and other emigrants followed in 1590, 1628, 1635, 1640, etc. At the close of the 17th century the Hydriotes took part in the reviving com merce of the Peloponnesus. About 1716 they began to build sakturia (of from io to 15 tons' burden), and to visit the islands of the Aegean; not long after they introduced the latinadika (40-5o tons), and sailed as far as Alexandria, Constantinople, Trieste and Venice ; eventually to France and even America. From the grain trade of south Russia they derived great wealth. In 1813 there were about 22,000 people in the island, and of these 50,000 were seafarers. At the time of the outbreak of the war of Greek independence the total population was 28,190, of whom 16,460 were natives and the rest foreigners. One of their chief families, the Konduriotti, was worth Ł2,000,000. Into the national struggle the Hydriotes flung themselves with rare enthusiasm and devotion, and the final deliverance of Greece was mainly due to their fleets.
See Pouqueville, Voy. de la Grece, vol. vi.; Antonios Miaoules, `T7r6pvr)µa 7repi T9js v, rov "Tbpas (Munich, 1834) ; Id. ZuvosrTLIO) Laropia Twv vavµaxcwv bed TWY 7rXoiwi TWv Tpiwv v1)QWv, "Tbpas, Ilirawv sal (Nauplia, 1833) ; Id. 'Icrropla Tjs vi)aov "Tbpas (Athens, 1874) ; G. D. Kriezes, `Iaropla Tiffs vi crov "Tbpas (Patras, 186o) .